I am taking part in Kidney March - a 3 day, 100 km journey from Kananaskis to Calgary. This is more than just a walk. This is big. I am joining hundreds of others as a united front against kidney disease.

Why? Kidney disease is personal. It affects 10% of the population, yet is seldom spoken of. Kidneys are two of the hardest working organs in your body. They remove waste and excess water, and control mineral and hormone levels. When your kidneys aren't functioning properly, it impacts every aspect of your life.

When diagnosed early enough, we can slow down kidney disease. Because you can lose 80% kidney function without any symptoms, many people don't know they have kidney disease until they are close to kidney failure. On average, 15 Canadians are newly diagnosed with kidney failure every day.

Kidney failure can be fatal. Unfortunately, it is a leading cause of death in Canada. And there is no cure.

On September 7th, 8th and 9th, I am participating in Kidney March. It will be a challenging, but I am excited for it. A chronic illness so encompassing as kidney disease deserves a walk of this magnitude. I am training in preparation of marching 100 km. But I need your help. My goal is to raise a minimum of $2,200. Please sponsor me.

In supporting me, you are supporting The Kidney Foundation of Canada to carry out kidney disease prevention, lifesaving research, and organ donation initiatives. By being part of Kidney March I am part of Canada’s biggest effort to date to improve kidney health. How? The Kidney Foundation is a founding partner in Can-SOLVE CKD, a Canada-wide research initiative featuring 18 projects and a $40 million investment into kidney research. Now in its second year, Can-SOLVE CKD represents the largest investment into kidney research in Canadian history. Patient volunteers helped shape the research questions, and are still involved as research progresses. The Kidney Foundation has pledged $3.35 million to make this transformational research possible. By supporting me, you are supporting this groundbreaking initiative in which Kidney Foundation donations are matched by federal and provincial governments as well as private partners.

Thank you for taking up the torch on behalf of the millions affected or at risk. A kidney crisis is looming. The time to make a difference is now. Failure is not an option.